"We are holding serious peace negotiations (with Israel) and we are keen to reach a solution on all the permanent status issues," Abbas told senior Fatah movement leaders at his Ramallah headquarters.

On Monday, Abbas is scheduled to meet with Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert in Jerusalem to tackle issues related to the Israeli blockade measures and settlements expansion in the West Bank.

Peace Talks between the Palestinian National Authority (PNA) and the Jewish state came to a standstill following a deadly Israeli ground military operation in northern Gaza Strip early March, leaving around 130 Palestinians killed.

Abbas said if a final peace agreement is worked out by the end of the year, "the agreement will be presented before the Palestinian people for a referendum."

Though U.S. President George W. Bush pressed the two sides to ink a final agreement before he leaves office in January, Israeli and Palestinian officials doubted whether a deal will be reached.

Even if a final agreement is reached with Israel, President Abbas will face internal problems with Islamic Hamas movement ruling the Gaza Strip since mid June.

Since Hamas's takeover of Gaza, the geographically-split Palestinian territories was further politically divided -- with Abbas' Fatah controlling the West Bank while Hamas ruling the Gaza Strip.

Abbas had called on Hamas movement to end its control of the coastal enclave, respect the agreements the PNA signed with Israel, and go for early presidential and legislative elections.